This is a picture of the construction team completing the foundation
for all the walls of the first block and preparing it for a
cement cap upon which the bricks will be placed.
We arrived in Kandale on Thursday. There were many welcoming parties from diverse parts of the community. After organizing all the sleeping arrangements and food, Colette was already assembling many of the people who would lead the projects in the days and weeks ahead. Right off the bat on Friday, Vodafone would be giving a presentation on the viability of installing a tower to facilitate the use of phones, which appear to be in abundance with the people in town. In the days ahead the projects include breaking ground on the first block of classes, completely reworking the turf of the football field, and painting the church.
We arrived in Kandale on Thursday. There were many welcoming parties from diverse parts of the community. After organizing all the sleeping arrangements and food, Colette was already assembling many of the people who would lead the projects in the days and weeks ahead. Right off the bat on Friday, Vodafone would be giving a presentation on the viability of installing a tower to facilitate the use of phones, which appear to be in abundance with the people in town. In the days ahead the projects include breaking ground on the first block of classes, completely reworking the turf of the football field, and painting the church.
The photo on the left depicts the site of a previous class in ruins upon which the new block of classes will be built. The photo on the right shows the site once the grass had been cleared and set on fire. The photo in the middle presents Colette with the construction crew. Colette has been reviewing the plans for the construction with Frederick, the architect, Olivier, the engineer, and the many seasoned workers assembled.
Colette’s days have been filled with many meetings including a meeting with the youth from several communities to begin work on the football field. Colette goes to great lengths in each of her meetings to explain the details of the project and the expectations for successful completion. On Sunday after a 2 ½ hour mass, Colette met with the religious leaders to address their concerns.
On Monday while the boys were organized to work on the football field, Frederick and Olivier began mapping out the locations for the first block of classes. Strings were extended many hundred yards from the primary schools to orientate the next stage of construction. Then it was a matter of laying out the foundation, carefully measuring all the distances with the lines wrapped around stakes. Before lunch the team had finished digging the trenches that would become the foundation. By the afternoon cement had been poured into one of the trenches and Olivier began building the foundation with the rocks that have been thoroughly documented in previous Communiqués. It is not surprising that the foundation takes a great many rocks. The truck that recently delivered construction materials was able to help supplement the piles of rocks and sand, but it an ongoing process.
Painting the church inside and out was a very big job.
It took the crew over a week to complete the many coats needed.
One of the most impressive components of this work has been the level of preparation. Each project has proceeded unimpeded due to the detailed meetings and the professionalism of the people involved. As Frederick and Olivier are not new to working in Kandale, they wasted no time in setting the construction work up for successful progress.
"Frederic" Kaniema-Ngika has been working with REVE Kandale since 2019 when he first came to evaluate the projects in Kandale. Colette was looking for an architect for the ongoing projects and interviewed several people for the position. Frederic's first job was to design the water catchment system for the Multipurpose Education Center in addition to the bases for the cisterns.
Since then he has rehabilitated several buildings, including the water depot and designed the many structures now being used including the primary schools. Presently, he is working on the first of eight blocks of classrooms. He has been instrumental in providing encouragement to the team and step by step instructions for the successful execution of each stage of the construction. He received his degrees at the Institute du Båtiments et des Travaux Publics å Gombé, Kinshasa.
"Olivier" Mwalela Kindeke started working with REVE Kandale around the same time as Frederic in 2019. His job title is Contremaitre and he is the lead builder for every step of each project since the construction of the primary school classrooms through the rehabilitation of the water depot. He is often found in many of the photos, guiding every step of the project. Olivier was recommended through a connection in the Congo. He received his education through the Catholic Mission in Kingandu as a Constructor.
All the work that has been done here has been done by hand. Every step is labor intensive from carrying the rocks and water, digging the trenches, mixing the cement, leveling the football field, and a host of other jobs. It is incredible and a testament to the commitment of the people working in the hot sun. In the weeks ahead the Communiqué will continue to follow the progress of the work being done. In addition many of the key members in this endeavor will be interviewed. Keep your attention here as there will be mangos in the next issue.
